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Zion Williamson is expected to play in the New Orleans Pelicans' second preseason game on Sunday against the Miami Heat. He also played in their preseason opener against the Orlando Magic on Oct. 6. Williamson had an impactful outing in limited minutes as he dropped 16 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals in 19 minutes, shooting 8 of 11.
The Pelicans couldn't play in their last outing against Magic on Oct. 11 after the game got postponed because of Hurricane Milton. The Pelicans haven't played in a week, so it makes sense for them to deploy their best lineup available again to keep their preparation process intact.
It also offers Williamson and Dejounte Murray the time to keep working on their chemistry after displaying signs of a promising partnership in their debut.
Zion Williamson looks better than ever in preseason
Zion Williamson's NBA career has been troubled by injuries since his rookie year. It delayed his debut, and nearly every offseason has been overshadowed by injuries. Williamson finished last year with an injury, too.
However, a prolonged offseason after missing the playoffs gave him the chance to get back in shape. Williamson said in August that he weighed 281 pounds, four pounds less than what he weighed at Duke. His ultimate goal was to be 272 pounds entering the season.
It's not confirmed if Williamson has hit his target weight with opening night less than two weeks away. However, his performance in the Pelicans' preseason opener seemed encouraging and suggestive that he may have lost some more weight since August.
Zion Williamson looked mobile, quick and explosive off the the bat. These signs only elevate the Pelicans' shot at success next season, especially with the All-Star forward likely playing a more on-ball role and occasionally playing the five.
How to watch Zion Williamson and New Orleans Pelicans in action vs. Miami Heat in preseason?
The preseason game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Miami Heat will be televised locally by Pelicans.com and Bally Sports Sun. NBA League Pass will provide online coverage of the game for viewers outside local regions. The game will begin at 3:30 p.m. EDT at Kaseya Center, the Heat's home court.
